Fresno Dome

Fresno Dome is a dominant granite dome rising in isolation above the forest of Soquel Meadow in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California.

Fresno Dome
Fresno Dome's northern face as seen from the Fresno Dome trail.
Highest point
Elevation	7,544 ft (2,299 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	260 ft (79 m)[1]
Coordinates	37°27′16″N 119°32′12″W[2]
Geography
Fresno Dome Show map of California Fresno Dome Show map of the United States
Location	Sierra National Forest, Madera County, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS White Chief Mountains
Geology
Rock age	Cretaceous
Mountain type	Granite dome
Climbing
Easiest route	Trail hike (class 1)[3]

The dome as known to the Mono Indians as "the greeting place" ("wah-me-yelo"). John Muir encountered Fresno Dome, calling it "Wamello", in the 1870s, and used its summit to locate Fresno Grove (now known as Nelder Grove).^[4][5]

It is accessible by a trailhead which is a three-mile drive from the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway (part of the National Scenic Byway system).^[3] The nearest town is Bass Lake, California, 9.1 miles (14.6 km) to the south.

At its base, sits the Fresno Dome campground, a backwoods campground accessible only by jeep trails. The campground is a favorite spot for deer hunters and is largely empty other than during deer season. The dome offers several technical free climbs rated class 5 or better,^[6] with "Guides in a Snowbank" rated at 5.10a.^[5]

See also

• Half Dome
• Lembert Dome
• Batholith
• Geology of the Yosemite area